UNBREAKABLE Novel Chapter 10

10

RISUNA

I’m visiting Mlunghisi’s family. I know it’s risky, but Mlunghisi said his father is not home. So it’s safe for me. I won’t be using my sister’s car this time. My sister left last weekend. So it’s almost impossible to know that I’m here unless I move up and down around the yard.

“My daughter, welcome. It’s so good to see you.”

“Thank you mom. How are you?”

“I am good. And happy to see you. You should visit more often.”

I wish my father in law was like this. Life would be good. But no. He just had to hold a grudge about something tha happened years ago. Even the people who started the war have passed on for goodness sake!

“What is happening here?” My heart starts beating fast. Mlunghisi said his father would be back next week! What is this now? What am I going to do?

“Mlunghisi! ” He comes out of his room running. He’s also shocked that his father came back. He was so sure that he wouldn’t come back. But here he is. What does one do when things are like this? I’ve never been in a relationship but I never thought relationships come with problems like these.

I look at Mlunghisi as he pleads with his father not to say anything to the chief. Would this man really rat me out? Is he evil to that extent? He woud gladly watch as that chief orders people to kill me? Doesn’t he have a conscience?

I turn to walk away but Mlunghisi holds my hand. That fuels his father’s anger. If looks could kill I would be dead. His look is scary. I wonder what’s going on in his head. Is he planning to go through with what he promised he will do?

“Dad,I don’t know why you love acting like a saint. But it ends here. Risuna is going to spend the weekend with us and you’re not going to go to the chief. “

“Are you trying to control me,your father? You will not tell me what to do!”

“Dad,tell me something. When the two villages were in war,were you there? Were you also fighting? Who do you know that was killed there?” I look at him. Where is he going with this?

“I wasn’t involved but my father was. “

“Did your father die in that war?”

“No. “

“Then what is making you angry? Risuna did nothing to you! Did that man who started the war kill your father?”

“No,but he stole from him. He sent his people to terrorise the villagers and stole their cattles. There’s no way a man can own so many cattle. “

“I see. So this is driven by jealousy. The man probably worked hard for what he had. But you’re blaming him for that! He wouldn’t start a war for nothing. What did people from this village do?”

“His sister was married to the chief’s younger brother. The man was abusive and one day he went too far and killed her. That’s what made that man angry. But that’s no reason to terrorise others! “

“Oh. I see. So he wanted revenge for his sister. Now if the same happened to Basani would you fold your hands and do nothing?” He becomes angry instantly. Then why does he hate me if he’d react the same way my grandfather did?

“Dad,you’re being unfair. You are helping the chief fight his battles. Things that don’t even involve you. You know, the people that you say are evil are the nicest people I’ve ever met. Ever since I started going to that village everyone has been nice to me. They don’t care about where I come from. Even the chief. Yes,he knows me. But he has no problem with me being there. And you know what’s more interesting? The family of that man that you hate for nothing loves me. They welcomed me with open hands. Yes. If they were still holding grudges for what happened to one of their own do you think I would still be alive? You see this woman standing next to me? She is a Hlungwani. She is that man’s granddaughter and her family never judged me. But because of your loyalty to the chief here you are,standing before us and about to crucify her for something she knows nothing about. Does she have to pay for her grandfather’s sins? If her grandfather had killed your father then I would understand. Now here is what is going to happen. You’re going to be nice to her. You won’t make her feel unwelcome for the duration she’ll be here. If you do that I will leave and I will never set foot here again. That’s a promise. “

I can see that this man still hate me. I think it’s a good idea for me to leave but i don’t think Mlunghisi will allow that. He tells me to sit down then leaves. I sit next to my mother in law and she holds my hand.

“It’s going to be okay. It may be hard now but his father will come along,you will see. We just need to be patient. “She sounds hopeful but I’m not. I still don’t think that he will come along. He’s too loyal to the chief. So I can’t put anything past him.

………

I wake up to Mlunghisi shaking me. I look at the time and it’s 9pm. Why is he waking me up? I’m sleepy. Couldn’t this,whatever it is wait until tomorrow?

“Change into your dress. We need to leave. “

“What’s happening? It’s late. “

“I’m taking you to my uncle’s house. Hurry up.” Something is happening and he doesn’t want to tell me what it is.

“My father just left. I think he’s going to the chief’s place. I don’t want them to find you here. ” I quickly put on my dress and my shoes. Then I get on my feet and he holds my hand and we walk out. Is this what love is? Going through all of this because someone is against our love is so insane! I am making a promise to myself. I will never come here again. It’s the last time I come to this village.

We walk to his uncle’s by foot. It’s like a 15 minutes walk. And another thing is i can’t walk as fast as Mlunghisi. That’s why it takes us 15 minutes or so to get to his uncle’s.

We arrive and his uncle welcomes us. He tells Mlunghisi that I’m safe and tomorrow morning he will take me home. Mlunghisi takes me to one of his cousin’s room. When we get to the door he embraces me. We stay like that for a long time. Then he kisses me. My man looks so sad. What his father did is heartless. Evil! Why would he tell the chief knowing that the man could kill me?

“I will make sure to come and see you tomorrow. I love you. “

“I love you more. ” He kisses my forehead and walks away. I get inside the hut and close the door.

MLUNGHISI

I knew my father hates people from Risuna’s village. I just didn’t think it’s this much. All this time i really thought Hlungwani is a bad man. That’s how he’s portrayed in this village. The devil that has no mercy for others. That’s what they say about him. But after what I heard today i don’t think he’s as evil as they say.

If i was in his shoes i would have done the same. I will deal with anyone who hurts my sisters. I would never let anyone go scot free after killing one of my sisters. I would fight tooth and nail for justice. I would even avenge for her death. I don’t know why dad is acting like it was his sister that was killed.

I can hear voices from here. I just arrived from dropping Risuna at my uncle’s. If I didn’t overhear my father we would wake up to people making noise demanding that i give Risuna over to them. I don’t know what I would have done. I promised her father that i would protect her. And now this happens.

The voices are getting closer and i can see the lights. They are using fire as the light. I think those people are holding firewood. Were they ggoing to burn her?

I get into my room and lock it. I start packing a bag of clothes. I’m leaving as soon as those people have done what they are coming here for. I will sleep at my uncle’s place then early in the morning we will leave. I’m going to start by building a hut that I will use for the time being. I will only come here to visit my siblings and mother. As for my father,I’m done with him.

I’m relieved that my father gave me all my money before all of this. I left it with Risuna. The noise is now close. It sounds like they are at the gate. I open and walk to my sisters’ room as I hear someone crying. It’s my little sister,the family’s last born. This is what my dad is putting his 12 years old daughter through. She is scared and crying.

“Khensi,stop crying. They won’t do anything to you.” I try to calm her down.

“I’m scared!” She tries to run out to my mother but I hold her hand tight.

“Basani,lock your room. I’m going to take care of what’s happening there. “

“What about Risuna? Won’t they hurt her?”

“She is safe.”

I walk out and find a group of women standing in front of my hut. What shocks me is that even women are here. Are they here to kill one of their own? Shouldn’t they stand for each other? They should be doing everything they can to protect their fellow woman,but no. They want her dead.

I will never understand some people. You wake up just to come and cause havoc for something that doesn’t concern you. What are they going to gain from this? Will it change the fact that the chief is using them to fight his battles? Will they gain anything from that?

“Take her out! We want her!”

“Bring us the intruder! We don’t keep enemies in our village!”

They are all speaking at the same time. They are angry and ready to attack. I don’t want to even think about what I would do if Risuna was here.

“Please calm down. Whoever you’re looking for is not here!” It’s difficult controlling a crowd of more than 20 people. They just can’t stop!

“She’s here! We are not stupid!”

“Please tell me why you are here. I need to know so that I can help you if I’m able to.” One man stands in front of the crowd and raises up a stick of firewood.

“Let’s calm down and listen to what he has to say. Where is the girl? We just want her. Give her to us and everything will go back to normal.” The way my dad is so evil,hs is standing in front of these people. The look he is giving me shows evilness. I will never forget this day in my life. I will always look back and think of it.

“She is not here. I know my father reported to you that I have a woman here who is from the other village. Yes,she was here but she got scared after my father threatened her. She wanted to leave. After everyone went to bed I accompanied her to the bus station and she left. If you think I am lying you can get into my room and check. I am not hiding anyone. “

“Why are you dating our enemy? We have a lot of girls in this village.”

“That girl you call an enemy stole my heart. I fell in love with her and decided to follow my heart. Is that a sin? Am I supposed to date girls from here even when I don’t love them? My heart chose that girl that you hate. If that’s wrong then kill me too like you killed her grandfather. “

They open my hut and get in. Dad is now face to face with me. He’s not even blinking. It makes me ask myself if there’s more to this. Is he hiding something? Why would he take such measures to see Risuna gone?

“Dad,thank you for everything you’ve ever done for me,hating me so that I learn to stand for myself. Thank you for being a bad father. You’ve taught me a lot even though you were bad and I will carry that advice forward. Thank you for teaching me to stand up for myself. Today you’ve shown me how evil you can be. You’ve been so hard on me but that taught me to stand up for myself. I stand here today as a strong person. I can face whatever I go through. I could take anything you threw my way. Good or bad. But what you just did showed me that you can have me killed. I’m done trying to please you,doing everything you ask of me and being your slave. It’s time I go and live my own life. Goodbye dad. When you wake up tomorrow I will be gone. Don’t worry about me. Don’t look for me. I will be fine wherever I am going. I wish you well going forward. I’ve paid the builders all their money and bought all the building materials to finish up the house. Don’t worry about how you’re going to take care of this family. Every month I will bring my mother money or Basani or Dzunisani will fetch it. ” I turn and give him my back. I wait for these people to finish with their search then get into my hut and continue packing. I will come back for everything when my hut is finished.

Making this decision was hard but I had to. I had to put a stop to this treatment that my father keeps giving me. I actually think he just didn’t like that I finally had someone in my life. Maybe he thought I was going to change and not take care of them anymore. But that won’t happen. I will always take care of them. Just from a distance.

………..